Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park is in northern Minnesota, is the oldest and largest of Minnesota's state parks, and is considered the "jewel" of the state's parks system. Itasca offers the classic northwoods experience, with an old growth forest, diverse and plentiful wildlife, fishing, swimming, and crystal-clear streams and lakes, including Lake Itasca, which is the source of the legendary Mississippi River. == Understand == === History === === Landscape === Itasca's 32,690 acres include lakes, streams, old growth forest, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. No visit to Itasca is complete without seeing the headwaters of the Mississippi River, at the outlet of Lake Itasca. Itasca's landscape is a glacial moraine, sometimes referred to as "knob and kettle." The land was shaped by advancing and receding glaciers, and the lakes are the residue of glacial melt. === Flora and fauna === Typically for northern Minnesota, the park is home to a great diversity of songbirds, predatory birds, freshwater fish, amphibians, and mammals. Observant visitors have a good chance of seeing deer, beavers, porcupines, black bears, and maybe even wolves. The grand forests of Itasca State Park include red pine, white pine, cedars, aspen and birch. In undisturbed areas, some of the old growth trees have been determined to be more than 500 years old. === Park information === Itasca State Park website == Get in == == Fees and permits == == Get around == == See == 1 Lake Itasca. (updated May 2020) 2 Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center, Shevlin, ☏ +1 218-699-7251. Located at the headwaters, this center offers exhibits, a gift shop, restrooms, and a cafe. (updated Jul 2026) == Do == == Buy == == Eat == == Drink == == Sleep == === Lodging === === Camping === === Backcountry === --> == Stay safe == == Go next ==